Hashiba forces · Kuroda
Kuroda Yoshitaka (Kanbei)
“Strategist / Josui”
Once a senior retainer of the Kodera of Harima, he followed Hideyoshi and supported the unification of Japan with his intrigue and strategy. Imprisoned for over a year in a dungeon during Araki Murashige's rebellion, he was left with a lame leg. At the Honnō-ji Incident he is said to have whispered to the shaken Hideyoshi that his chance had come, and to have guided the Great Return from Chūgoku and the victory at Yamazaki. He later shaved his head and took the name Josui.
- Epithet
- “Strategist / Josui”
- Rank / office
- Kageyu-no-jikan
- Domain / base
- Harima → Nakatsu, Buzen
- Banner / crest
- Kuroda wisteria
- Side
- Hashiba forces
- Lived
- 1546–1604 (aged 59)
Life
- Tenshō 5 Hideyoshi's Staff Officer Followed Hideyoshi in the western campaign and displayed his talent for intrigue.
- Tenshō 10 The Great Return from Chūgoku Proposed racing back at the news of Honnō-ji and guided the victory at Yamazaki.
- Keichō 5 Sweeping Kyushu Seizing the opening of Sekigahara, he raised his own army in Kyushu and expanded his domain.
Battles in this archive5 battles
- Siege of Miki Tenshō 6 to 8 Miki Castle, Harima Province Architect of the Harima campaign. The plan to ring Miki with forts instead of storming it owed much to this man's cunning. Watch ▸
- Siege of Tottori Tenshō 9 Tottori Castle, Inaba Province Staff officer of the western campaign. The "surround and starve" method mastered at Miki was applied even more thoroughly here at Tottori. Watch ▸
- Siege of Takamatsu Tenshō 10 Takamatsu Castle, Bitchū Province The strategist who proposed "attack it with water." Turning the marshy terrain to his advantage, he sank the impregnable marsh castle beneath a lake. Watch ▸
- Battle of Yamazaki 13th day of the 6th month, Tenshō 10 Yamazaki, Yamashiro Province Seized the slopes of Mount Tennō and dominated the Akechi army from above. The unit that gave rise to the phrase "the Tennō-zan that decides the realm." Watch ▸
- Invasion of Shikoku Tenshō 13 Ichinomiya Castle, Awa Province The strategist behind Hidenaga. He proposed cutting the castle's water and blocking its supplies, and dried Ichinomiya out. Watch ▸
Related sites
- Himeji Castle
- Nakatsu Castle (Ōita)
- Fukuoka Castle
FAQ
- Who was Kuroda Kanbei?
- The peerless strategist who underpinned Hideyoshi's rise to power. He is said to have whispered "your chance has come" at the news of Honnō-ji and guided the Great Return from Chūgoku and the victory at Yamazaki. With Takenaka Hanbei he is one of the "two Bei"; he later shaved his head and took the name Josui.
- How do Kuroda Kanbei and Takenaka Hanbei differ?
- Both were famous strategists to Hideyoshi, known together as the "two Bei." Hanbei came first and died young of illness; Kanbei served long afterwards and won a great domain in Kyushu. Hanbei also saved Kanbei's son Shōjumaru (Kuroda Nagamasa).
- How did Kuroda Kanbei die?
- At the time of Sekigahara he raised his own army in Kyushu and expanded his territory. He died in Keichō 9 (1604); his son and heir Nagamasa laid the foundation of the Fukuoka domain.